Guidelines for RC Tones 

    

Possible tone Meaning of the word

Acerbic Harsh/ severe; bitter
Aggressive Forceful; tending towards unprovoked offensiveness
Angry/indignant  

Apathetic Emotionless; not interested/ concerned; indifferent; unresponsive

Expressing remorse, regret, sorrow for having failed, injured, insulted or

Apologetic
wronged another
Belligerent Aggressively hostile; bellicose

Biased Favouring one thing/person/group over another for personal reasons.

Caustic Biting; acerbic

Commiserating Feeling/ expressing sorrow for; empathizing with; pity

Condescending Patronizing; showing/implying patronising descent from dignity/ superiority

Contemptuous Expressing contempt/ disdain

displaying a belief that people are always self-seeking and never altruistic in
Cynical
their actions
Derisive Unkind and displaying contempt
Disparaging Speak slightingly; depreciating; belittling

Dogmatic Asserting opinions in an arrogant manner; imperious; dictatorial

Easily affected by feelings actuated by experiencing love, hate, fear and the
Emotional
like
Ethical Dealing with principles of morality; honest; righteous
Substitution of mild, indirect or vague expression for one thought to be
Euphemistic
offensive, harsh or blunt

Grandiose More complicated/ elaborated than necessary; pompous

Humanistic Evincing keen interest in human affairs, nature, welfare, values

Humourous Funny and amusing

Introspective Consider one's own internal state of feelings
Incendiary Causing strong feelings
Laudatory Praising; extolling; applauding
Motivating Impelling; inciting

Obsequious Fawning; showing servile complaisance; flattering; deferent

Pedestrian Lacking vitality, imagination, distinction

Egalitarian; pertaining to the characteristics of common people/ working
Populist
class
Provocative Inciting; stimulating; irritating; vexing

Romantic Fanciful; impractical; unrealistic; extravagant; exaggerated

Sarcastic Harsh, bitter derision; taunting; sneering; cutting remarks

Satirical Ironical; taunting; human folly held up to scorn/ derision/ ridicule

Speculative Theoretical rather than practical; thoughtful; reflective; hypothetical

Using terminology or treating subject matter in a manner peculiar to a

Technical
particular field, as a writer or a book

Vitriolic Full of anger and hatred

Vituperative Cruel and angry criticism